Plectrum-machine.



U. E. $GHMIDT.

PLEGTEUM MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1907.

926,51 1. Patented June 29, 1909.

14 7111 es; e/,s. Inventor.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. SCHMIDT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PLE CTRUM-MAOHIN E To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEs E. SCHMIDT, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plectrum-Machines and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and correct specification of the same, reference being had to the hereto accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, and in which- Figure 1 shows my said new device in elevation, partly in section, applied to an instrument; Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of the plectrum-shaft, or drum, taken on the plane a a: of Fig. 1 and provided with four pleckers; Fig. 3 shows my said device in a modified form, the stirrup and shaft being at right angles to the direction of the key; Fig. 4 shows still an other modification in which the shaft and key are placed at any angle intermediate the said other constructions. Fig. 5 shows Fig. 1 in plan view. Fig. 6 shows Fig. 3 in plan view.

Like reference letters denote like parts throughout.

The object of my invention is to produce a practicable device for plecking the strings of stringed musical instruments, such as guitars, banjos, and all kinds of instruments of that nature, whereby may be improved the facility for playing such instruments, the quality of tone im roved, and like advantages. To attain sai desirable ends I construct my said new device in substantially the following manner, n amely On any instrument, as A, are mounted suitable transverse bearings, or supports, 0, (Z, j, over the strings a and between the bearings c and d are placed shafts b whereof one end may project through and beyond the bearing (Z, as herein shown, and to the end, at (Z, of said shaft is attached a hook-plate 6, formed of a substantially rectangular sheetmetal plate having hooks e e at each of its corners, and into said hooks passes the transverse part f of a stirrup f which hangs on a supporting-rod g, said rod projecting from the end of the digital t fulcrumed on a support j. Said supporting-rod g may be in line with the direction of its digital, as indicated in Fig. 1, or it may be turned thereto at other Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 28, 1907.

Patented June 29, 1909.

Serial No. 381,259.

angles, as indicated in Fig. 3. Said parts f and g are simply suitable steel wires worked into any desired shape, and secured to the part 9 is a stop 70 which arrests the motion of the stirrup f driven toward it by the action of the coiled spring it just as the barf passes over the part c. When the partf descends to its normal position from its highest point it slides down against the face a and is held there by the action of the coiled spring it.

Onto the shaft or drum b are fastened plectrums 1, 2, 3, 4 which may be formed from flat steel springs, or from suitable wire, the outer or free ends of which make sure contact with the string or strings o and which, by reason of their elasticity, will yield and wind on the said drum Z) until, finally, it will lose its hold on the string a and thus pleck or set said string into vibration. By depressing the key 1' into the position indicated in broken outlines in Fig. 3, the shaft Z) is caused to rotate, in this case a quarter of a revolution, whereby plectrum 1 will vibrate the string a, the next plectrum which will come into action is 4, then 3, 2, and so on in succession.

When the digital i returns to its normal position, through the action of a coiled spring Z the part f of the stirrup f slides down against the face 6 of the hook-plate c and is pushed over the engaging-hook c e by the spring h and stopped by the stop Zr, or, in the absence of said stop It the stirrup will be stopped by the shaft 7). The only difference in said latter case is that on account of the stirrup being nearer to the axis of the shaft Z) the required force, or leverage on the key i will be greater.

For convenience of illustration, and. simplification of the structure to the comprehension 1 show a fragment of a stringed musical instrument provided. with but a single string and the single element and its necessary mechanism for working it because thereby is disclosed in the simplest way, the entire nature of my invention as it is only necessary to repeat the shaft 1) and its key i and their necessary parts as many times as there may be strings to the instrument.

A suitable inclosing case, indicated by the broken outline m, may be provided, according to the fitness of the instrument and the ing-hooks, of a digital provided with a stirrup owners taste, but it forms no necessary part to engage and release said hooks.

of my invention. CHARLES E. SCHMIDT.

hat I claim is: The combination with a rotatable shaft provided with a series of pleotrums, and a 1 plate provided with a like number of engag- Witnesses 7M. ZIMMERMAN, M. GOLDBERG, Homers JoHNsoN. 

